Data Deletion Vs Data Destruction

Data is gradually becoming the new gold. Tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, and Google generate their profits based on how they manipulate the data of Users, which they often sell to advertisers. Cyber Criminals spend a lot of time and resources trying to steal the data of public and private organisations, because they know that data is wealth. Meanwhile, corporations, multinationals, and more, that handle sensitive information, continue to store them as data at a server or in a computer. But there’s is more to it, and we’ll talk about this later on. But more recently, we visited one of the major banks in Nigeria in order to demonstrate how our outdoor data destruction facility works. Subsequently, we ran a post on Twitter about our visit, and unsurprisingly we saw from a few comments, that some well-educated Nigerians still know little or nothing about Data Destruction, and yet most people use data storage device at home or at work. With an increasing number people and businesses needing to use a computer or a data storage device, one must wonder how and where these data end up.

Difference between Data Deletion and Data Destruction

Data destruction is simply the process of destroying data stored on tapes, hard disks, and other forms of electronic media in an environmentally safe manner, such that the data is completely unreadable and cannot be accessed or used for unauthorized purposes. Today, many Nigerians carry the mistaken belief that once data has been deleted from a computer, and marked for disposal and dumped at the trash, it no longer requires much attention. They fail to understand that electronic records are not physical, and deleting a file only makes the space that file occupies as free and usable, not that the deleted file is forever lost. Until that space is actually overwritten by another file, the data is still there and can be retrieved. In fact the U.S. Federal Government advice that the disk space formerly occupied by the deleted files must be overwritten with other data at least seven (7) times before the entirety of the files are deemed irretrievable. So you must know that even if you delete all files or format a storage device, the data once there can still be retrieved. That is why when IT assets are due to be replaced, have reached end-of -life, or are obsolete, special care must be taken in disposing of them such that any data once stored is rendered forever irretrievable.

Research has shown that for many companies the problem often starts with not having a defined policy around data destruction, many organisation especially in Africa, decommission their IT assets and leave them with informal handlers without much thought given to whether or not the data is still accessible or not, thereby putting the livelihoods of such a company and several others in jeopardy, depending on the data they have left exposed.

What then is the best way to go in rendering data irrecoverable?

What We Advice

• Most electronic devices have storage media components that contain confidential information. These devices must be properly erased for reuse, or degaussed and permanently destroyed if unwanted to prevent confidential information leakages.
• Data leakages can lead to serious financial, intellectual property and security breach, with huge ramifications not just for individual or corporate body, but for national security.
• At e-terra technologies we have a world-class e-waste collection & eco-friendly disposal system in place. We professionally evacuate and dispose unwanted IT assets for communities, businesses and government institutions in an eco-friendly manner that best promotes them as environmentally responsible entities.
• We refurbish near-end-of-life electronic gadgets for re-use by organizations, the public or donation to staff members and charity as part of employee reward schemes or corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• We also protect businesses and governments from data theft and financial crisis by assisting them erase for reuse or degauss and permanently destroy all old and unwanted data storage components e.g. hard drives, tapes, CDs or proprietary electronic devices such as SIM cards and ATM cards.
• We have an Off-Site Shredding Facility and an On-Site Shredding Facility:
– An Off-Site Shredding Facility (Reduces Materials to a 10mm size). Some unique Features are:
Machinery Shredding Rate: 640HDD/day@7hrs/day
Degasser: Magnetic Force: 10,000 Gauss
Particle Size: 10mm
CCTV surveillance, strong rooms, and access control
Recycling Technical Partner: Evciler & Elemental Recycling, Turkey
Disposal frequency: Quarterly (maximum 3-month)
– An On-Site Shredding Facility; (Reduces Materials to a 6mm size)
 Machinery shredding rate: 160HDD/day @7hrs/day
 Particlesize:6mm
 CCTVfootage,30kvagenerator,strongrooms,accesscontrol;
 Recycling Technical Partner: Evciler & Elemental Recycling, Turkey
 Disposal frequency: Quarterly (maximum 3 months)

• We also have an I.T. Asset Decommissioning Service. Here we work with the I.T departments of business and government institutions to take e-waste inventory, evaluate and take out of service unwanted and obsolete I.T Assets (e-waste).

• Furthermore, we have a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Treatment Facility. One of the few in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the first CRT treatment plant in Nigeria. It detoxifies Cathode Ray Tube monitor and TV sets. We have the capacity to detoxify communities of unwanted CRT monitors and TVs.

2. Avoidance of Health Crisis by contributing to a healthier environment and workplace, a better quality of life for staff members and the general public.

3. Lower Business Cost through avoidance of workplace health issues and fines for improper storage and disposal of e-waste.

4. Excellent Corporate Image and Enhanced Equity through positive relationships with local and international environmental regulators, business partners and the general public for embracing eco-friendly processes.

5. Access to Affordable Recycled Electronic Devices for CSR or donation to staff members in furtherance of global REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE mantra.

On a final note, we must remember that the question of data destruction is a question of our livelihoods, the sustainability of our way of life, and the future of our planet. We at E-terra are partners with you in this process, as we assist individuals, communities, businesses and government institutions, to prevent environmental, health and financial crisis as a result of improper data destruction. Until next time, have a safe and eco-friendly day.

About Us

E-Terra Technologies Limited is a pioneering company into the eco-friendly management of electronic waste (e-waste); recycling, refurbishing, and data destruction of storage devices in alignment with the global vision of a greener planet.